Early the next morning, Everyone woke up to start getting things ready for the party. Lynn Sr wasn't too happy about having to buy more bananas for the bread and Luan wasn't happy with having to rebuild her makeshift stage. Stress was definitely flying through the house and because of it, everyone was on edge. And some of them were still a little miffed at Leni.
Lincoln noticed this and was a little concerned about his family. "Guys? I understand how important Pop Pop's birthday is, but don't you think you guys are stressing about this too much? It's starting to take a toll on your behaviors." Said Lincoln. "It's not just the party Lincoln. It's Leni. She's really been getting on our nerves lately." Said Lori, her voice full of frustration. "Yeah! Thanks to her I have to rebuild the stage I made for Mr. Coconuts to use during the party!" Added Luan. "She scratched the paint on my axe!" Cried Luna. "And she keeps pestering us to model for her!" Said the rest of the sisters. "And I had to delay the completion of my banana bread because of her!" Said Lynn Sr. "And she keeps asking the most ridiculous things." Said Rita. "Honestly, I just wish she could be normal for once."
Lincoln was very surprised. It wasn't like his family to be so easily ticked off by little things like this. "But guys, Leni was just trying to be nice! And-" "Lincoln, we don't have time for this. Now can you please get the decorations we bought yesterday from the closet?" Interrupted Rita, clearly not wanting to continue the discussion. "Yes mom." Replied Lincoln, and did what he was told.
Leni was upstairs, putting the finishing touches on her present for Pop Pop. It was a beautiful handcrafted suit. "Pop Pop's going to to love this, I just know it!" She cried. When it was finished, Leni carefully took the suit off the mannequin and folded it carefully into a box and wrapped it with bright wrapping paper. "All done! Now to help my family with decorating!" And she ran to the stairs, only to trip and fall down the stairs!
"Leni! You ok?" Asked Lincoln. "Yeah, just forgot I was chewing gum and walking at the same time again." Said Leni. Everyone rolled their eyes at this and continued working.
In the kitchen, Rita was busy making a special cake. She was using a special glass cake stand that had been in her family for a long time. It was once her mother's and she wanted to use it to surprise her dad. "I sure hope he likes this." She said worriedly. Lynn Sr had finished the bread and was cleaning up his ingredients when he heard Rita talking. Lynn Sr was still a little annoyed with Leni, but he knew Lincoln had a point. Leni was just being herself.
"Hon, I think Lincoln's right. We're stressing about this party too much. Albert is always happy with whatever we make for him. Don't you think?" Asked Lynn Sr. " Lynn, this is dad's 70th birthday! I want everything to be absolutely perfect!" And she continued on with her work. "I've got a bad feeling about this." Sighed Lynn Sr.
"Leni was busily hanging streamers when she saw Lori blowing up balloons. "Hey Lori! Doesn't the place look amazing?" She asked. "Leni, I'd REALLY appreciate it if I didn't hear your voice for a long time." Said Lori rudely. She was still irritated about yesterday. Leni decided to hang streamers somewhere else. When she passed Luan and Luna, they both glared. Leni began to feel more and more like an annoyance.
A little towards noon, Pop Pop and his girlfriend, Myrtle arrived. "Hi kiddos!" "Hello, my sweet grandchildren!" They said as they walked in. "Pop Pop! Myrtle!" The kids cried as they hugged their grandparents. "Happy birthday!" "Aw, thanks kids. 80 years and still going strong!" He laughed.
Lynn Sr walked into the living room to greet his father in law." "Happy birthday Albert!" He said, giving him a hug. "Thanks Lynn. The place looks great!" Said Albert. "You have the kids to thank for that." Said Lynn Sr. "Especially Leni!" Exclaimed Lincoln. "Hey, we all decorated too!" Protested Lola. "Kids! Kids! Not now!" Intervened Lynn Sr.
The party started smoothly. They played party games, heard stories of Pop Pop's days in the army, and had a special birthday lunch of chili dogs and banana bread.
Soon, it was time for presents and cake. "Oh! I almost forgot! I made the PERFECT present for you Pop Pop!" Cried Leni, she ran upstairs to grab her gift. She grabbed the present and bolted back down the stairs.
Just then, Rita was coming into the living room with her cake on her mother's display stand. "Oh, mom, I can carry that for you!" And Leni jumped up and took the cake from Rita's hands. "Leni what are-!" But then, Leni suddenly stepped on Charles' rubber ball and slipped! Leni threw her hands up in the air in a state of panic as she fell! The cake flew into the air! And landed with a crash onto the floor! The cake splattered everywhere and the cake stand shattered upon impact!
For a minute, nobody moved. Rita just stared at the broken stand and the ruined cake. "Mom I-I-I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to! I can fix it!" Leni crawled over to clean up the mess when Rita, quite roughly shoved her away. "LENI MARIE LOUD!! Look what you did!! That was my mother's cake stand and in one motion, you DESTROY IT!!" She cried. Lynn Sr, Albert, Myrtle, Lincoln and his younger sisters were very surprised at Rita's sudden outburst.
"Rita, you need to cal-!" Began Lynn Sr. "Quiet Lynn!" She turned back to Leni. "This was Pop Pop's 80th birthday and you ruined it!!" Shouted Rita. "Just like how you ruin everything else!" Came Luna's voice. "Maybe if you weren't such a brain dead doofus, you'd actually be tolerable to be around!" Shouted Lori. "I always thought you were absent minded, but know I realize you're nothing but a dumb blonde!" Shouted Luan.
The others gasped. Leni felt her heart shatter into a million pieces. "What?" "You heard her!" Shouted Lori. "I may be blonde too but we definitely know a dumb blonde when we see one!" "Leni, just go to your room! I don't want to see you for the rest of the day!" Said Rita. "But, I was just trying to help." Said Leni. "And that's the problem Leni! You don't have the slightest bit of normal human intelligence to be any help at all around here! We don't want your help! Now go!" "Bu-" "NOW!!" Screamed Rita and the older girls in unison. Leni jumped in fear and quickly up the stairs.
Rita then took a deep breath. "Ok, Lincoln, can you get me the dust buster?" She asked, turning around. She suddenly saw Lincoln and his little sisters were nowhere to be seen. Only a shocked Lynn Sr and a disappointed Albert and Myrtle were there. "Wh-Where's Lincoln?" She suddenly saw movement coming from behind the couch. She peered back there to find Lincoln and his little sisters cowering in fear. Lincoln had his arms around the twins, as if he was trying to protect them. Rita suddenly realized what was happening.
"Kids, it's ok." She moved closer only for them to run upstairs to hide. She looked at her older daughters and the looks on their faces made her realize they had made a big mistake. They looked at Lynn Sr and their grandparents. "Lynn, Myrtle, go comfort the youngsters. I've got to have a talk with these girls." Instructed Albert. The two adults nodded and headed upstairs. Then, he approached his daughter and his older grandkids. "Outside. NOW." He said through gritted teeth and led them to the backyard.
In her room, Leni was curled up on her bed, sobbing. "Maybe mom was right. Maybe I am too dumb to help people." She thought. She looked at a family picture she had on her nightstand and gave a deep breath. "But I guess there is one thing I can do to help." She thought. She went to her closet and grabbed a bag. She packed some of her prized possessions and then wrote out a note to leave on her bed.
Then, after checking to see that the coast was clear, she tiptoed down the hallway and descended the staircase. Then, she carefully opened the front door, and bolted from the house.
She ran to the bus stop to catch a bus Hunting Oaks. She wanted to put as much distance between herself and her family as possible. "It'll be better this way." She said to herself. When the bus arrived, Leni rode all the way to the neighboring town. Once there, she went to the Huntington Oaks park to clear her head. Having no idea on what to do next, she in the park gazebo and let all her hurt feelings out.
Stay tuned for chapter 3!